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Sunday, February 16, 2014

I Resolve, 2014

Do you ever feel that you have so many irons in the fire that you're gonna need a bigger fire? Ever have so many things that you plan to do but the great monster of procrastination steals half the day away from you? Well, I sure do. I've got all this stuff swirling around in my head that doesn't get done and I think if I set it down here then it'll somehow precipitate its birth, if you know what I mean.

What I mean is, an idea is only an idea, but if you tell it to people, then it somehow becomes more real.

So here's a list of things that occupy my mind, some currently happening, some just ideas waiting to bear fruit, and some are halfway there. I think if I write all this down, then people will maybe stop me in the street and say, "Hey Jeff, what happened to that thing that you said you were going to do?" and then I could tell them, "I'm gonna do it, dammit! Give me a chance!". So here goes.

The Grass

The band I was part of while at school over 30 years ago has collectively decided that this is the year to have a reunion. Since we live in different parts of the country, though, we find it hard to collaborate. We need to travel to see each other and I need a proper drum kit, but it needs to be portable as I haven't got the space for a full size one. There are options, but I am financially strapped right now (story of my life, really!). So in order to make this easier, I've set up a crowdfunding page for people to contribute to our reunion. Go see it at http://gogetfunding.com/project/the-grass-reunion. Also check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheGroupGrass

One, I've always wanted to be a DJ. Back in the days before the interwebs in order to become a DJ one would likely have to go to college and study Communications and Media Studies, make a demo tape, hawk it round every radio station you can think of and keep plugging away at it until some station gives you your big break. Nowadays there is free software, websites that syndicate your show, and basically all you need is a decent computer and a microphone.

Two, a few years back a friend and colleague of mine named Alistair Pritchitt suggested we do a podcast together as we both had good tastes in music and a good comedic rapport. He had previously DJ'd on college radio stations and so we thought it was a good idea. Now is the time.

Three, recently I was involved in a podcast that was basically an interview of The Unbelievables, the crime-fighting fictional trio that are the subjects of a blog that I co-author along with Michael Noble and Clark Brooks. The result was an episode of Douglas Arthur's podcast Assault Of The Two-Headed Space Mules and if you want to have a listen, here's the link.
Around that time I began listening to other episodes of Doug's podcast and thought how cool it was, particularly the episode where he interviewed my old friend and colleague Marissa Rapierin an episode where they discussed toys of the 1970s. After that I downloaded an episode of Artsee's Diner in which the host interviewed Clark about his blog Ridiculously Inconsistent Trickle Of Consciousness and the subsequent book, A Ridiculously Inconsistent Treasury.
Then I started listening to another podcast involving Clark,The Spike On The Mic Show, which... you'd have to listen to to really understand what it's all about.
Now Clark has just uploaded the first episode of his very own podcast,A Ridiculously Inconsistent Podcast.
So I have this idea of my podcast kind of being a sort of round-table discussion of current events, weird news, opinion, music, jokes etc. along with Alistair Pritchitt, my old buddy who suggested the thinng in the first lace, along with two of my other friends, the first being Raymond Blackford who I've known since I were nobbut a lad working for Victoria Wine and who now works at Liquid Pleasure in Tenterden. Ray has a fine line in corny jokes and is always ready with a bad pun or one-liner to make you groan. The other participant will be Alastair Sadler, lead singer of The Grass and now a successful salsa dance instructor, and most recently a new face on the London comedy circuit. He's been doing standup for a couple of years now and is getting known. So it will be a pleasure to have him along with his witty observations and topical humour. The title of the podcast will be The Intelligence Men, so look for the links here.

As I said, I have always wanted to be a DJ, so I am considering (if I can find the time) doing my own music podcast at some point where I can be let loose playing some of the oddball music I have found most entertaining over the years.

T3

T3 or Transition Town Tenterden is still going. We don't have very many members but we are still planning events and showing up at places with the Smoothy Bike. Next events are a Plant and Seed Swap on March 22nd and another town-wide litter pick on April 13th. Check out our Facebook page and our blog.

Rosie
My little daughter Rosie takes up a good deal of our time as you might expect. She is now very close to being 17 months old and is walking, so look out! Secure the ornaments! She's a very sociable little girl and smiles at everyone (mostly). She makes me very happy and I feel honoured to be a Dad to such a sweet little pickle. Here's her blog at babypeanutsblog.blogspot.com

Weight loss
I've been on a bit of a health kick recently, partly spurred into action by my DryAthlon which took place in January. I did it for Cancer Research UK and raised £205 by not drinking alcohol for the entire month. Since the start of February I have been drinking a lot less than I used to and trying to lose more weight with the help of a wonderful app called MyFitnessPal which tracks your calories, exercise, water intake etc. daily. I hope to lose at least a couple of stone this year.

Divorce/Marriage

One hates to talk about deeply personal stuff on the blog but I shall gloss over all the yucky bits for you and boil things down to this: I intend this to be the year where my divorce becomes final and I can at last be free to marry Laura, and I will be goddamned if I cannot make this happen. End of.

Kids
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Tenterden 365

A project i am involved in this year is the Tenterden 365 project in which photographers all over this town send in photos every day and an independent panel of judges picks the best one from each day. At the end of the year the daily winners will be displayed in an exhibition. I think there could be a book or a calendar in it, too?

Anyway, that's the lot. I think. It seems like a list of stuff to do coupled with a list of resolutions, so that's what I'll call it. Follow my progress if you feel like it - or not, honestly I don't mind.